Although many people all over the world regard solar or lunar eclipses as somewhat sinister omen, astronomers in contrary rate those occurrences quite prosaic as regular and calculable constellations – which however by all means are worth watching, no doubt.

Similar sober is the traditional Jewish standpoint in relation to any of those celestial phenomena. Already the prophet Jeremia ben Hilkia said:

“Do not learn the ways of the peoples and don’t be frightened by signs in sky, although they are frightened of them. For the practices of the peoples are worthless.” (Verse 10.2-3)

While the Talmud is likewise unambitious: “When the Jews follow the word of God, they have no reason to worry about all those signs.”